Keith Mack
Northwestern Law School is a highly respected educational institution, consistently ranking in the top 10 law schools in the US. Its location in downtown Chicago gives students access to a bustling hub of commerce, law, and business. Northwestern Law's proximity to large law firms, corporations, courts, and government agencies provides students with abundant opportunities to launch their legal careers. The school's litigation-oriented curriculum includes classes taught by prominent legal professionals, such as trial advocacy taught by the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Northwestern Law's strong reputation and alumni network enhance its graduates' employability, with many alumni working in large private law firms and prestigious judicial clerkships. However, gaining admission to Northwestern Law is highly competitive, and applicants must demonstrate a well-rounded profile, including academic excellence, business experience, and strong interpersonal skills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 15% for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle |
| Ranking | 9th in the nation, part of the T-14 |
| Median GPA | 3.95 |
| GPA range | 3.77-4.0 |
| Median LSAT score | 172 |
| LSAT score range | 166-174 |
| GRE scores | Accepted instead of LSAT scores |
| Letters of recommendation | At least one, preferably from supervisors or employers |
| Personal statement | One to three pages, demonstrating introspection, emotion, and individuality |
| Interview | Offered to 80% of applicants, either with an alum or an admissions staff member |
| Litigation-oriented curriculum | Yes, with classes taught by prominent legal figures |
| Job prospects | Good, with a 97.8% employment rate for 2021 graduates |
| Job sectors | Law firms (72%), federal or state judicial clerkships (12%), business and industry (9%), public interest (4%), government (3%) |
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What You'll Learn
Job prospects and prestige
Northwestern Law School is considered a prestigious T14 law school, which means that graduates can work at and become partners at any big law firm, clerk for prestigious judges, get the most selective federal government and public interest jobs, and even teach law. However, it is a lower-T14 school, meaning that if you get into a top-6 law school (Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Chicago, or NYU), you should go to one of those places instead. Michigan, Berkeley, and Virginia are also considered more prestigious than Northwestern.
Northwestern Law School is well-known among the top law schools in the U.S. It ranked 9th in the latest U.S. News & World's Best Law School report and 9th in Above the Law's ranking of the top 50 law schools in 2022. Northwestern Law also ranked in Above the Law's top 10 Go-To Law Schools in 2022, which focused on the percentage of new graduates who landed associate posts in the country's 100 largest law firms.
Northwestern Law School's urban location in downtown Chicago also gives students access to a wide range of opportunities in commerce, law, and business. The school has connections to large law firms, corporations, courts, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, providing students with a variety of options to launch their legal careers. Northwestern Law School's litigation-oriented curriculum is also notable, with classes taught by prominent legal professionals, such as judges and attorneys from top litigation boutiques.
In terms of job prospects, Northwestern Law School performs well in job placements with big law firms. In a recent study, the school ranked second for sending the most law students per capita to the biggest and most prestigious law firms, as listed in the National Law Journal 250. However, it is important to note that excellent grades are necessary to increase one's chances of securing a position at a prestigious firm. Northwestern's 2021 graduates posted a 97.8% employment rate, with 96.7% of graduates employed in long-term, full-time positions within ten months of graduation. The majority (72%) of these employed graduates worked in law firms, while others held federal or state judicial clerkships (12%), business and industry sector jobs (9%), public interest roles (4%), or government positions (3%).
Additionally, Northwestern Law School's small class size and high ranking make admissions highly competitive. The median LSAT score of the 2024 entering class was 172, with scores ranging from 166 to 174. A high LSAT score, preferably in the high 160s, and an undergraduate GPA of 3.75 or higher are recommended for a competitive application. Northwestern Law School also values applicants with business experience and a robust background in other areas, such as athletics, music, art, and entrepreneurship.
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The application process
To be considered a competitive applicant, students should aim for a high LSAT score (generally in the 160s) and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.75. However, Northwestern Law also accepts GRE scores instead of LSAT scores. The school values applicants with a robust background in business or other work experience, even if their test scores are not in the highest range.
The admissions team looks at applicants' life experiences, accomplishments, and track records. Personal statements and essays play a crucial role in the application process, with a recommended length of one to three pages. These statements should reflect introspection, individuality, and emotion, demonstrating the applicant's thoughts, experiences, and goals. Additionally, applicants must submit at least one letter of recommendation that speaks to their character, personal and professional goals, and their decision to pursue a legal education.
Northwestern Law School, part of the prestigious T-14 group of law schools, offers excellent job prospects. Its urban location in downtown Chicago provides easy access to major law firms, corporations, courts, and government agencies, giving students a wide range of opportunities to launch their legal careers.
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The interview process
- Why Northwestern?
- Why Law?
- Tell us about a time when you failed. What did you do?
- Describe a time when you had a difficult conversation and how you handled it.
- What is more important to you: the result or the process? Why?
- What is your backup plan if you do not go to law school?
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The campus and its location
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law is located on the eastern edge of Northwestern University's 20-acre Chicago campus, in the heart of the city's downtown. The campus is described as having a unique environment for learning and research, with classic limestone colliding with modern glass and steel. The campus is situated in one of Chicago's most active and desirable neighbourhoods. To the east of the campus lies Lake Michigan, and to the west, Chicago's premier shopping district, Michigan Avenue's "Magnificent Mile". The elegant Gold Coast residential neighbourhood is located just north of the campus.
The city of Chicago provides an ideal setting for the study of law. Northwestern Law students benefit from easy access to local courts, law firms, and corporations. The law school is also conveniently located adjacent to the Kellogg School of Management, a top-ranked business school, allowing law students to take advantage of its resources and classes. The state-of-the-art Northwestern Memorial Hospital is also located nearby.
Chicago is a city of global status and beauty, as well as one of the most vibrant legal and business communities in the world. Northwestern Law students enjoy the advantage of being located in the centre of a huge legal market, with a wide range of opportunities for externships, internships, and connections to large firms, judges, and prosecutors. The school has a national base of firms who recruit its students, providing opportunities for employment in any of the major regions and legal markets across the United States.
The urban location of the campus offers a vibrant and dynamic environment for students, with easy access to all that the city of Chicago has to offer.
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The curriculum and faculty
Northwestern Law School is a major, national law school, ranked as a T14 school. This means that a degree from Northwestern can open doors to work at and become a partner at any big law firm, clerk for prestigious judges, teach law, and more. However, it is important to note that mere attendance at Northwestern is not a guarantee, and excellent grades are crucial to stand out.
The litigation-oriented curriculum at Northwestern Law School offers a range of courses and concentrations. Students can choose a general course of study or specialize in one of six areas: Appellate Law, Business Enterprise, Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Environmental Law, International Law, or Law and Social Policy. The school's renowned Bluhm Legal Clinic, one of the largest and most comprehensive in the country, provides a simulation-based curriculum, including the Bartlit Center for Trial Advocacy, the Program on Advocacy and Professionalism, and the Program on Negotiation and Mediation.
Northwestern also offers a variety of experiential learning opportunities. Students can gain on-the-job experience through Practicum, with options in Judicial, Criminal, Public Interest, and Corporate Counsel practica. Additionally, the school provides study abroad programs in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Amsterdam, Israel, Argentina, and Singapore. International Team Projects (ITPs) allow students to customize their curriculum and conduct field research abroad.
The faculty at Northwestern Law School includes prominent professors and industry experts. For instance, Professor Anthony D'Amato defended real war criminals before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Other notable faculty members include Ronald J. Allen, John Henry Wigmore Professor of Law; Karen J. Alter, Professor of Political Science and Law; and Joshua Jack Jones, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, and Director of the Bartlit Center for Trial Advocacy.
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Frequently asked questions
Northwestern Law School is well-known among the top law schools in the U.S. It ranked 9th in the latest U.S. News & World's Best Law School report and 9th in Above the Law's ranking of the top 50 law schools in 2022. The school has connections to large law firms, corporations, courts, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, providing students with abundant opportunities to kickstart their legal careers. Northwestern Law School also has a high employment rate, with 96.7% of 2021 graduates employed in long-term, full-time positions within a year of graduation. 72% of these graduates worked in law firms.
Getting into Northwestern Law School is difficult, with an acceptance rate of around 15%. The school invites all applicants to interview, either with an alum or an admissions staff member. The median LSAT score of the 2024 entering class was 172, with scores ranging from 166 to 174. The median GPA was 3.95, with a range of 3.77-4.0. A robust background in business or work experience may give applicants an advantage, even if their LSAT or GPA is not in the desired range.
Northwestern Law School is located in downtown Chicago, providing easy access to the city's food, music, history, arts, architecture, and nature. The school has a litigation-oriented curriculum, with classes taught by talented professors, including the chief judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The Bluhm Legal Clinic offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience by working in a mini law firm within the school. Additionally, externship opportunities with the U.S. Attorney's office, the Chicago DA's office, and federal judges in Chicago provide valuable hands-on learning.
In addition to strong academic credentials and test scores, Northwestern Law School values life experiences, accomplishments, and interpersonal skills. The admissions team recommends submitting a well-written and introspective personal statement that reflects your individual experiences and goals. Be sure to proofread your application to avoid generic statements or errors such as including the wrong law school name.
